CALF WITH A SILVER CHAIN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1078, 17 March 1911, Page 8

CALF WITH A SILVER CHAIN.

'AND KINDRED THINGS. (By Telegraph.—Pres3 Association.) Auckland, Jlarch lfi. The Government experiment farms as a whole were criticised in somewhat severe terms at a meeting of the Auckland ..executive of the Farmers' Union to-day. "'Members considered that in many'cases they were of no practical use to the farmers, arid were carried out in a manner that could never have good results. Major Lusk admitted that he. was afraid that a good dea_l of what had.been said was. true, and he mentioned a case where', they could not tell the difference between ryegrass seed and cocksfoot. This started members retailing experiences, and one stated that he had onco visited a farm and had seen a calf being led round on a silver chain. Ho inquired and found that the calf was being experimented on as a maize-fed animal. It was then weighed, and the man declared that the calf had gained 2cwt. in a week. 'A-good word for the farms was put in by Mr. J. Boddie who, after five or six visits'to Mcumahaki,' believed that good work was being done. Mr. J. E. Makgill moved that the union should ascertain tho opinion of other provincial executives as to whether a commission of .recognised practical- farmers should be set up to inquire into the management and practical benefits derived from the Government experiment farms. .The motion was seconded by Captain Colbeck atid carried.